Regular Home Maintenance is Key
You LOVE where you live & inspecting your home on a regular basis and following good maintenance practices are the best way to protect your investment in your home. Establish a routine for yourself, and you will find the work is easy to accomplish and not very time-consuming. A regular schedule of seasonal maintenance can put a stop to the most common — and costly — problems, before they occur. If necessary, use a camera to take pictures of anything you might want to share with an expert for advice or to monitor or remind you of a situation later. By following the information noted here, you will learn about protecting your investment and how to help keep your home a safe and healthy place to live. If you do not feel comfortable performing some of the home maintenance tasks listed below, or do not have the necessary equipment, you may want to consider hiring a qualified handy-person.
SPRING Home Maintenance Checklist
As spring arrives, and signs of new growth emerge, it's an excellent time to ensure your home is in optimal condition. Beyond your regular spring cleaning, consider these targeted tasks to keep your home functioning smoothly. Utilize our comprehensive spring home maintenance checklist to cover every part of your home, from the basement to the roof, and enjoy a fresh start to the season:
Landscaping and Yard Prep
- Refinish the deck.
- Fertilize your lawn.
- Prune trees and shrubs.
Exterior Repairs and Updates
- Clean window and door screens.
- Remove leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts.
- Have a professional inspect and pump the septic tank.
- Inspect roofing for missing, loose, or damaged shingles and leaks.
- Inspect the chimney for damage.
- Wash windows.
- Power-wash siding.
- Repair or replace caulking and weather stripping around windows, doors, and mechanicals.
- Remove the insulation from outdoor faucets and check sprinkler heads.
Interior Cleaning and Inspection
- Clean faucet aerators and showerheads to remove mineral deposits. Repeat in the fall.
- Change the air-conditioner filter.
- Polish wood furniture and dust light fixtures.
- Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Inspect sink, shower, and bath caulking for deterioration.
- Vacuum lint from the dryer vent.
- Have the air-conditioning system serviced.
- Drain or flush the water heater.
Monthly Home Improvement Checklist
Inspecting your home and completing monthly home improvement projects will keep your maintenance schedule on track and easier to manage. Follow this comprehensive home maintenance checklist each month to help save time and money:
- Clean the furnace filter to remove dust build-ups, make it easier to regulate your home's temperature, and ultimately decrease energy bills.
- Check the water softener and replenish salt if necessary.
- Clean faucet aerators and showerheads to remove mineral deposits.
- Inspect tub and sink drains for debris; unclog if necessary.
- Test smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and all ground-fault circuit interrupters.
- Inspect electrical cords for wear.
- Vacuum heat registers and heat vents.
- Check that indoor and outdoor air vents are not blocked.
- Flush out hot water from the water heater to remove accumulated sediment.
- Clean the garbage disposal by grinding ice cubes, then flushing with hot water and baking soda.